Waterboarding:

[Stingray427]

Would it be torture if it was used on Americans?


We (being Americans) arn't driving car bombs at their troups, or planting IED all over the place. If we were, I wouldn't blame them for doing it to their prisoners.

[outsider]

We (being Americans) arn't driving car bombs at their troups, or planting IED all over the place. If we were, I wouldn't blame them for doing it to their prisoners.

Neither is everyone who we waterboard.

How about a definite answer Ray. Is waterboarding torture if used on Americans. No other circumstance matters. If an American soldier is waterboarded is he being tortured?

[Roguesqd23]

Neither is everyone who we waterboard.

How about a definite answer Ray. Is waterboarding torture if used on Americans. No other circumstance matters. If an American soldier is waterboarded is he being tortured?
its kind of hard to waterboard someone when they are in a couple thousand pieces :wink:

[outsider]

I think it's sad that you would make a joke like that to demean anyone or to downplay something that much of the world think of as torture.

Rogues, what is your definition of torture and why does it differ from the dictionary?

[Roguesqd23]

Main Entry: 1tor·ture
Pronunciation: \ˈtȯr-chər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre to twist; probably akin to Old High German drāhsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle
Date: 1540
1 a: anguish of body or mind : agony b: something that causes agony or pain
2: the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure

well according to this waterboarding would cause some anguish of the mind. I just dont see it as torture. Like I said if we were burning them or scaring them I would have a problem with that. Pouring water on their heads to make it seem like they are drowning is screwing with them but I do not think there would be long term effects from it.

[outsider]

So you at least agree that waterboarding does meet part of the definition of torture?

[HaloGuardian]

Pouring water on their heads to make it seem like they are drowning.

That is the biggest misconception. If it seemed like you were drowning then you could still breath. When you are drawning you can't breath. During waterboarding you can't breath. You are suffering physical and mental anguish. It is torture, and even McCain who is wrong on almost every other issue knows this.

[HaloGuardian]

We (being Americans) arn't driving car bombs at their troups, or planting IED all over the place. If we were, I wouldn't blame them for doing it to their prisoners.

So shooting up city hall, molesting children, and chopping up people is not as bad as car bombs and IED's?

[Unreal Player]

Main Entry: 1tor·ture
Pronunciation: \ˈtȯr-chər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre to twist; probably akin to Old High German drāhsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle
Date: 1540
1 a: anguish of body or mind : agony b: something that causes agony or pain
2: the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure

well according to this waterboarding would cause some anguish of the mind. I just dont see it as torture. Like I said if we were burning them or scaring them I would have a problem with that. Pouring water on their heads to make it seem like they are drowning is screwing with them but I do not think there would be long term effects from it.:rolleyes: Because making someone think they are drowning is no causing them anguish in the body or mind.



Waterboarding is a form of torture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture) that consists of immobilizing a person on his or her back, with the head inclined downward, and pouring water over the face and into the breathing passages.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#_note-EbanVanityFairWB1) Through forced suffocation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffocation) and inhalation of water, the subject experiences the process of drowning (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drowning) in a controlled environment and is made to believe that death is imminent.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#_note-WhiteWAPostWB_110807) In contrast to merely submerging the head face-forward, waterboarding almost immediately elicits the gag reflex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gag_reflex).[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#_note-ABCNewsWB_110807) Although waterboarding can be performed in ways that leave no lasting physical damage, it carries the risks of extreme pain, damage to the lungs, brain damage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_damage) caused by oxygen deprivation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_deprivation), injuries (including broken bones) due to struggling against restraints, and even death.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#_note-HRW_open_letter_WB) The psychological effects on victims of waterboarding can last for years after the procedure.[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#_note-NY)


No, that doesn't sound like torture to me. :rolleyes:

[outsider]

Don't forget cluster bombs, napalm, blowing up schools, hospitals, sewage and water treatment facilities and so on.

[Roguesqd23]

So you at least agree that waterboarding does meet part of the definition of torture?

yes. according to the definition

[MsThang]

So, we just get to make shit up because it's what suits us? I ain't buyin it.

[outsider]

I won't push the definition part further. I'd rather give you the time to think about it a bit than berate you for it.

[Stingray427]

Neither is everyone who we waterboard.

How about a definite answer Ray. Is waterboarding torture if used on Americans. No other circumstance matters. If an American soldier is waterboarded is he being tortured?


OK, YES! Happy? But note there are degrees of torture. Its not like the rack, or pulling their fingernails out, or Electroshock. Its mental torture from the fear.